Kishtwar: The district administration of Kishtwar recently issued an order regulating the collection of donations during the holy month of Ramzan, mandating prior permission and record maintenance for fundraising activities.
According to the directive issued by Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Sharma, individuals or groups intending to collect donations must obtain clearance from the Executive Officer of the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board, the Imam of Jamia Masjid Kishtwar—who is also president of the Majlis-e-Shoura Committee—or the concerned tehsildar.
The order states that all fundraising entities must maintain proper records of collections and utilisation to ensure transparency and prevent misuse of charitable contributions during the month.
Officials said the measure aims to monitor donation drives and bring accountability to fundraising practices across the district.
The directive drew criticism from various quarters, including the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, where leaders of Congress termed it unconstitutional, saying the order interferes with personal religious practices and should be withdrawn by the administration in Jammu and Kashmir.
